Lodgers board shelves decision on streaming app

The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board on Wednesday tabled Tucumcari MainStreet’s request for $3,000 in lodgers tax funds to help set up a streaming and advertising app with a local radio station.

Board member Michael Carlson said the proposal was “vague.” He said it would be helpful if the written plan — which contained just a few sentences — would have more detail on the app’s advertising and events it would promote.

Carlson moved to table the matter until the board’s next regular meeting on July 5, which was approved.

Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, said the streaming app partnership, 60 ads and social-media boosts with KTNM/KQAY in Tucumcari would allow her organization to promote several events for the entire fiscal year.

“We saw it as a really good opportunity to everything with MainStreet,” she said.

Carlson, who owns a coffee house and bakery, questioned whether using motel tax funds was appropriate.

“This seems to be more like an annual advertising budget,” he said. “What differentiates this from my annual advertising budget? If that really the purpose of our funds?”

Board Chairman Matt Bednorz said he would like a split in the campaign, if funding is granted, between the Tucumcari and Clovis radio markets.

City commissioner Mike Cherry, a liaison to the board, suggested delaying action until the city figures out whether it will hire a tourism marketer in the next fiscal year.

The current marketer, Robyn Beaubien, elected to not have her contract renewed after this month.

In other business:

— The board approved the recommendation of $8,000 in lodgers tax funds for the 2024 edition of Tucumcari Rawhide Days.

The organizers of Rawhide Days requested a split in funding, with $3,800 in executive lodgers tax funds and $4,200 in promotional lodgers tax funds.

Bednorz noted the funding request was less than in previous years.

“I’m OK with it,” he said of the request.

The recommendation goes on to the Tucumcari City Commission, which can approve, reject or modify it.

This year’s edition of Rawhide Days begins Friday and continues through Sunday.

— Gar Engman, owner of TeePee Curios, said during the public comment part of the meeting that many Route 66 businesses in Tucumcari saw their neon signs damaged during a May 25 hailstorm.

“We’re taking a big hit,” he said. “We’re asking for help. Route 66 puts a lot of heads in beds.”

Suggested was a neon fund that not only would assist businesses with existing signs but incentivize other businesses to build new ones.

Loveland noted the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, uses economic development funds for its neon-sign grant program. She said insurance companies often refuse to cover old neon signs.

While sympathetic to Engman’s funding request, Bednorz said lodgers tax funds are not set up to benefit private businesses.

Loveland said the Tucumcari Talking Tour has a neon fund set up, but the amount in it is “very, very small.”

The New Mexico Route 66 Association, a federally recognized nonprofit organization, set up a Tucumcari neon repair fund at GoFundMe.com at gofund.me/96e0eca3. It had raised more than $3,500 through Friday. The goal is $100,000.

— Jerry Lopez, on behalf of the New Mexico Music Commission, reported city manager Paula Chacon plans to use state funds of $500 for Down at the Depot events, $1,500 for Tucumcari Rawhide Days and $2,500 at the Tucumcari Zia Club to book New Mexico music acts.

The music commission is offering 50% matches for bookings of New Mexico musicians. Lopez said the city needs to spend down most of the $10,000 in allocated funds before the next fiscal year begins.

Lopez also reported the music commission might offer 100% matches for music bookings in the next fiscal year, but that has not been confirmed.

— Scott Crotzer, executive director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, said electricity to his building remains shut off after the May 25 hailstorm punctured its roof.

He said the resulting leak was near an electrical box. The leaks destroyed the building’s internet, phone and computers, but he said insurance covers interior losses.

Crotzer said he’s hoping the building’s roof is repaired by June 18.

— City finance director Rachelle Arias said motel tax revenue through May was running about 15% higher than the eight-year historical average.

She also reported the recent Cinco de Mayo Celebration at the convention center generated $5,740 in ticket sales.

— Cherry suggested guidelines and a checklist for the board on funding applications. Bednorz said that was a good idea and noted the board used a checklist years ago.

— Wednesday’s board meeting was moved to the Liberty Room of the Tucumcari Convention Center. Board members were set to tour the facility, but two members were absent.

Also, the convention center sustained damage from the May 25 hailstorm. The board agreed to meet again at the center for its July 5 meeting and tour the facility at that time.